Lainey Wilson, Chance The Rapper & Trombone Shorty Join Boston Pops July 4 Spectacular
The Boston Pops will perform at the Hatch Shell alongside the Boston Children's Chorus and Tanglewood Festival Chorus.
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will return to the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade for its 52nd year on Saturday, July 4, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET. Led by Keith Lockhart, the free concert will feature special guest artists Lainey Wilson, Chance The Rapper, and Trombone Shorty, each making their first appearance with the Pops.
The 2026 event serves as the signature event of the Commonwealth’s MA250 initiative, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Organizers said the concert will include a revolutionary-themed drone show during the performance of the “1812 Overture,” along with a fireworks display choreographed to music performed by the Pops.
The musical program will feature the world premieres of two new works by contemporary American composers. One, commissioned by the Boston Pops, sets the poem “Song of Massachusetts” by Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson to music by BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon. The second, “Spirit of America,” was composed by James M. Stephenson in celebration of America 250.
Additional guest artists include the Boston Children’s Chorus, Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the USS Constitution Color Guard, and Berklee College of Music pianist Pelin Su Yavuz.
The event will also include the screening of “We Declare,” a student-created video about the Declaration of Independence produced through a statewide civics competition presented by iCivics.
The concert and fireworks display will be broadcast locally in Boston on WHDH-TV Channel 7 and streamed on CNN.com and the CNN app from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET. Portions of the fireworks celebration will also air internationally as part of CNN’s July 4/America 250 coverage.
Public access to the Oval lawn in front of the Hatch Shell will open at 12:00 p.m. The Esplanade will feature concessions, family activities, and a collaboration with The LEGO Group to assemble a giant American flag with the participation of attendees and libraries across Massachusetts.
Special Guest Artists
Lainey Wilson will appear following a year that included a Netflix documentary, new music releases, and multiple ACM Award nominations. The Grammy-winning country artist has also collaborated with performers including Jelly Roll, HARDY, Dolly Parton, and Post Malone.
Chance The Rapper, the Grammy-winning independent hip-hop artist from Chicago, will also perform. In addition to his music career, he is the founder of SocialWorks, a nonprofit focused on youth empowerment, arts education, and civic engagement.
Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, will bring his blend of jazz, funk, rock, soul, hip-hop, blues, and Caribbean influences to the event. The New Orleans musician and bandleader is also known for his work supporting youth music education through The Trombone Shorty Foundation.
Other Guest Artists
Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson will participate in the program. Gibson became the Commonwealth’s first Poet Laureate in June 2025 and currently serves as Co-Artistic Director of Pedagogy at Arts for Social Change.
Founded in 2003, the Boston Children’s Chorus includes singers from more than 110 ZIP codes in and around Boston and has performed at venues including Symphony Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the White House.
The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, founded in 1940, recently won its first Drum Corps International World Championship in 2025.
Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, established in 1982, performs historic martial, dance, and folk music from the 17th through 19th centuries.
Pelin Su Yavuz, a pianist and vocalist studying at Berklee College of Music, previously won the Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition and performed with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.
The Tanglewood Festival Chorus, founded in 1970, regularly performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and at Tanglewood.
The USS Constitution Color Guard, composed of active-duty U.S. Navy sailors stationed aboard “Old Ironsides,” will also participate in the celebration.
Composers of World Premiere Works
Carlos Simon, the inaugural Composer Chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, composed the score for “Song of Massachusetts.” Simon currently serves as Composer-in-Residence for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
James M. Stephenson composed “Spirit of America,” which will receive its premiere during the concert. Stephenson’s works have been performed by orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Boston Pops.
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